LTA PHOTO TOUR

HISTORY

Founded in 1934, The Little Theatre of Alexandria began as a small play-reading group. Full productions ensued, and in 1939 the group bought a rickety former blacksmith’s shop located in Ramsey Alley, between Lee and Fairfax Streets, for rehearsal space and construction of sets and costumes. Since 1934, the theatre has mounted over 350 productions.

Early productions were held upstairs at Gadsby’s Tavern and recreated life in the 18th century, right down to the visit of President and Mrs. Washington journeying from their Mount Vernon home. Over the years, audience members included a veritable “Who’s Who” of Washington. President Harry S. Truman attended on more than one occasion, and notes say that Lynda Bird Johnson even participated as a serving wench! In June 2001, President George W. Bush made LTA his first Washington-area theatrical outing when he came to see his sister-in-law perform in Neil Simon’s Proposals.

During the early 1940s, with war in both Europe and Asia, LTA decided to suspend operations. In a time of war rationing, theater seemed like a luxury that was best set aside until peace returned. In late 1945, the theatre resumed normal operations. During the 1950s, an empty lot at the corner of Wolfe and St. Asaph Streets became the permanent home of LTA. At first, the City of Alexandria generously agreed to rent the space to LTA for $1 per year. The theatre building was finally completed, and the first production – the comedy Send Me No Flowers – opened on November 18, 1961. A west wing was added five years later to accommodate dressing rooms, a sewing room, a rehearsal hall, and a carpenter shop. A later addition included more shop space and the Council Green Room. In the 1970s, LTA formally purchased the land from the City of Alexandria. Today, LTA is the oldest award-winning theater in the Washington metro area and one of the few community theaters in the country with its own building and an ambitious seven-show season.

During the years of World War II, the Theatre was inactive. Mr. Robert G. Whitton rented the workshop, made payments and collected dues regularly from some 100 members. In 1945, Whitton called a meeting for reorganizing.

1969 – 70
The Boy Friend
School for Scandal
Mame
The Bad Seed
Any Wednesday
Toys in the Attic
The Innocents
Kind Lady
Roar of the Greasepaint, Smell of…
Photo: Any Wednesday, 1970

1970 – 71
The Beggars Opera
Everything In The Garden
Down In the Valley
Trouble in Tahiti
Two for the Seesaw
Slow Dance on the Killing Ground
Kiss Me, Kate
You Can’t Take It With You
Photo: Kind Lady, 1970

1971-72
The Beggars Opera
All the Way Home
I Do, I Do
The Curious Savage
Detective Story
A Magnificent Thing to Be
Lock Up Your Daughters
Photo: Toys in the Attic, 1970

1972-73
The Best Man
Your Own Thing
Visit to a Small Planet
Abie’s Irish Rose
The Mousetrap
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way -to the Forum

1973 – 74
Other Men’s Wives
Sunday in New York
Night of the Iguana
Mary Mary
Invitation to a March
The Importance of Being Earnest
Mornings at Seven

1975 – 76
Cactus Flower
70 Girls 70
The Lion in Winter
1776
The Cat and the Canary
The Harp Tim
Room Service

1973 – 74
Other Men’s Wives
Sunday in New York
Night of the Iguana
Mary Mary
Invitation to a March
The Importance of Being Earnest
Mornings at Seven

1975 – 76
Cactus Flower
70 Girls 70
The Lion in Winter
1776
The Cat and the Canary
The Harp Tim
Room Service

1995 – 96
The Miracle Worker
You Can’t Take It With You
84, Chairing Cross Road
No Sex Please, We’re British
Forever Plaid
Cat On a Hot Tin Roof
Murder Among Friends
Photo: You Can’t Take It With You, 1995

1996 – 97
The Sorcerer
Postmortem
The Sisters Rosensweig
Don’t Dress for Dinner
Side by Side by Sondheim
Amadeus
The Male Animal
Photo: Amadeus, 1997

1997 – 98
Crazy for You
Noises Off
The Little Foxes
The Odd Couple (male)
Nunsense
The Mousetrap
Life With Father

2014-15
Spamalot
A Streetcar Named Desire
The Rocky Horror Show
A Christmas Carol
The Game’s Afoot
God of Carnage
The Odd Couple: Female Version
Dirty Blonde
Photo: Streetcar Named Desire, 2014

2015-16
In the Heights
Laughing Stock
The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife
A Christmas Carol
Grey Gardens
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare
To Kill a Mockingbird
The History Boys
Photo: In the Heights, 2015

WATCH AWARDS

The WATCH nominations for 2016 were announced on Sunday, January 15th and LTA received 26 nominations. The list of our nominations is below. In 2016 there were 27 community theater companies participating with 103 productions (34 musicals and 69 plays). The full list of nominees from all theaters can be found on the WATCH website at www.washingtontheater.org. The ceremony took place on Sunday, March 5, 2017 at the Birchmere in Alexandria, VA. And the nominees are …(Winners in red)

Outstanding Cameo in a Musical:
Gina C. Tomkus as “Matron/Gym Teacher” in Hairspray

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical:
Shannon Kingett as “Tracy Turnblad” – Hairspray

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical:
Christopher Harris as “Edna Turnblad” in Hairspray

Outstanding Choreography:
Iván Dávila for Hairspray

Outstanding Music Direction:
Christopher A. Tomasino for Hairspray

Outstanding Direction of a Musical:
Sue Pinkman for Hairspray

Outstanding Musical:
Hairspray

The Ruby Griffith Awards

The Ruby Griffith Awards Beginning in 1968, the British Embassy Players, now the British Players, established an award program in honor of one of their founding members Ruby Griffith. The Ruby Griffith Award for All-Around Production Excellence along with awards for Outstanding Achievement in a Musical and Outstanding Achievement in a Play is awarded each year. The awards are presented at a summer ceremony honoring the awardees from the previous year.

LENDING & DONATIONS

Lending of Costumes, Props, and Set Decoration
LTA is happy to loan our properties to neighboring theaters. To sign out, return, or donate items, you must contact and make an appointment with a particular Department Chairman in order to visit the Props, Costume, or Wigs Closet, or the Off-Site Storage areas. For information regarding LTA’s loan policies and to request access to any of these areas, please contact one of the appropriate Chairmen listed below. Please be advised that some items may require a security deposit which will be forfeited for damage or loss. We ask that you return your borrowed items no later than 7 days after your closing performance date.

General Notes: No item may be altered in any way without written permission from an LTA Properties Chairman. Costumes are to be dry-cleaned or laundered prior to their return, to regardless of whether or not they were worn on stage. Wigs are to be appropriately cleaned as well. Organizations are required to supply their own personnel and vehicles to select, transport, and return all items to their appointed storage spaces. Damaged or lost items will result in possible fines or suspension of borrowing privileges. Weapons are not loaned to high school or children’s theater productions and are loaned only to productions in which all actors and crew are 18 years of age and older. Again, for specific policies in a particular department, please contact the appropriate Chairman below.

Donations of Costumes, Props, and Set Decoration
If you are interested in donating costumes, props, furniture or other items to LTA, please contact the appropriate chairman below to make arrangements. LTA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, therefore your donation is tax deductible.